Although a letter of intent has been signed, the sale of a portion of Whirlpool Corp.’s facility in Fort Smith lacks a final binding contract, according to Whirlpool.

A news release Wednesday issued by Spartan Logistics of Columbus, Ohio, stated “Spartan Logistics and Whirlpool Corporation proudly announce the sale of the 619,508 square feet distribution building from the Whirlpool Corporation at 6400 Jenny Lind Road.” Comments from officials with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fort Smith also indicated a deal had been made.

Whirlpool responded Thursday morning that a binding contract had not been made yet. Spartan and Whirlpool announced in October 2013 the lease of 100,000 square feet of the building.

“The very good news is we have a signed letter of intent with a qualified buyer,” stated Jeff Noel, corporate vice president of communications and public affairs for Whirlpool. “Until we have a binding contract, it would be inappropriate to disclose any more information.”

Yet to be completed on the purchase of the 619,508 square feet is “the final language of the Purchase and Sale Agreement,” Whirlpool spokeswoman Kristine Vernier wrote Thursday. “Once that is done the buyer will have a period of time to complete its due diligence so a ‘lot split’ can be made to divide off the warehouse property from the main site.”

Noel stated the company will continue to “work aggressively to address the multitude of issues that still need to be resolved in order to reach a final agreement that meets the needs of all parties,” including the objectives of the city.

“If and when such a binding agreement is finalized,” Noel said, Whirlpool will work with local economic developers including the chamber of commerce, city officials and the buyer in making an announcement.

Spartan Logistics is a third-party logistics company specializing in acquiring and operating older properties as distribution centers in major manufacturing areas. The company previously has redeveloped properties in Ohio, Indiana and South Carolina and has served as a third-party company doing work for Owens Corning in Fort Smith.

The Whirlpool plant in Fort Smith opened in February 1962, built and owned then by Norge appliances. Whirlpool bought the plant in 1966. Whirlpool announced in October 2011 that it would close the plant, then followed through in June 2012. By that time, the plant’s work force had dropped from the 4,600 it enjoyed in the mid-1990s to about 825, after several years of force reductions.